It was the police department's fifth crackdown this school year alone.
Officials said they are being even more vigilant because of a new problem they say is contributing to kids skipping school.
They said that problem is buses - kids don't have a ride to school.
Leatha Savage, of Dayton's truancy division, said she takes the calls when downtown business owners report students hanging out when they should be in school. Savage said, "We also try to find out the reasons they are late, not going to school."
This year, Savage says the truancy problem is worse because many urban students have to find their own way to school after Dayton Public Schools stopped providing busing. Many students are at the mercy of the R-T-A schedule.
Savage said, "We have schools start at 8:30, 8:45 but the buses don't connect to those schools until as late as 10:00."
Still, police said they must crack down on truancy. Students who are on probation from being caught in the past will end up in family court. Other students will be sent to school.